Coal-washing apparatus.



y W. A. KNOYER. COAL WASHING AYPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.17, 1908.

9 06,239 Patented Dec. 8, 1908] UlTE Li ith;

WILLIAM A. KNOYER, OF MASONTOWN,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITTSBUBG COAL Van a.

QOAL-WASHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

?atented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed January 17, 190B. $erie1No. 411,261.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. KNorER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Masontown, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful 1m rovements in Coal- Washing Apparatus, oi which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My inventlon refers to improvements in washing apparatus for coal or other minerals for the separation of impurities by gravity and the buoyant effect of water, and relates particularly to an improved construction of jig and the current producing mechanism therein.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, artially in horizontal section on the line 1- of Fig. 2 of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line III1 of Fig. 1.

The apparatus comprises a jig tank 2, preferably rectangular in form, having inwardly and downwardly sloping ends 3, 3, and a middle transverse partition framework 4 in which is mounted a reciprocating plunger 5. Extending upwardly beyond the partition 4, which constitutes a plunger housing, is a transverse partition 6, arranged to divide the upper portion of the tank in two equal burdencontaining compartments 7, 7, of 'substantially the same size and 'ca acity.

The upper portion of the tan cavity is divided from the main lower portion by transversely arranged screens 8, 8, of perforated plate metal, wire netting, or other suitable construction, adapted to support the mineral to be washed and to provide for free upward travel of the water.

In use the screens 8, which are preferably arranged at a slight an le as shown, are covered with a la er of fel spar or other suitable material :0 0 sufficient specific gravity to rest upon the perforated screens 8, preventing the downward passage of the finer particles of the coal or other light minerals while permittin of free upward circulation of the water un er the impulses imparted to it by lunger 5, and of downward passage of the eavier impurities.

The particular advantage of inclining the screens 8 downwardly towards the middle partition 6 at each side is that the depth of the ragging 0!; thus increases gradually from the outer end of each screen towards its inner end. As the pulsations of the water are stron er adjacent to the plunger 5 and gradually ecrease in force in proportion to the distance therefrom, the 'raduated thickness of the ragging bed resu ts in an even rip-flow of the water therethrough all over with resulting uniformity in the separation of the coal from its impurities. I also prevent the lighter impurities from being carried over with the fine particles of washed coal by violent disturbance of the water at any point.

' 9, 9, represent any suitable slate gates or outlets for the accumulated impurities which pass downwardly through the screen and ace cumulate in the terminal boxes 10 10, at the bottom of the tank, and which may be emptied from time to time.

Water is supplied to the interior of the tank by pipes 11, 11, leading from any suitable source of sup ly, while the coal or other mineral to be -was ed is discharged into the jig from a hop er or other source of supply 12, preferably ocated at one end. The circulation of the washed coal is indicated b the arrows, the opposite end of the jig tan being somewhat lower than the-inlet end, thereby causing the coal to travel outwardly along the entire length of the jig during the washing operation, thus effcctin thorou h separation of the impurities, lmfore the washed coal is finally discharged. The outlet end of the jig, and also the middle partition 6, may be provided with forwardly extending lips or anges 13', 14, as shown. 1

The plunger 5, which may be of any desired form in cross section, is mounted within a lining 15 forming a portion of or incorpomake a substantially fluid-tight joint.

Motion is imparted to plunger 15 by one or more rods 16, preferabl two, passing outwardly through stufiing ones 17 in the ends of the tank, and actuated through an suitable lever mechanism and COHHGOl/JBIIS 18, from eccentric or cam mechanism 19 on shaft 20.

The mechanism as thus constructed is adapted to operate somewhat rapidly, say

. changed, or that other changes or variations tion of the tank at each side of the partition screens, means for'actuating the plunger,

one hundred and eighty-five strokes per minute, the strokes being comparatively short say one-half to one and one-quarter inches in length, depending on' local conditions or other factors and by these means it will be seen that a constant series of impulses will be imparted to.the water within each end compartment of the tank, resulting in a practically constant upwardly pulsating flow through the screens 8 and theiFsustained burden, to effect the desired separation.

I have found in practice that by imparting to the coal a continuous series of rapid pulsa' 1 tions, effecting a constant intermittent flow l of water under pressure, the finer particles of coal and impurities may be very thoroughly separated, due to the gentle continuous agitation of the intermittent upwardly traveling current. This result is due to the comparatively short strokes and high velocity of the plunger, operating alternately on the oppositely located bodies of water beneath the screen, whereby two continuous currents are forced upwardly to effect the washing operation.

It will be understood that the number and extent of the strokes may be varied to suit the character of the coal or other mineral, also that the slope of the screens 8 may be may be made by the skilled mechanic with-" out departing from the scope of the following claims:

What I claim and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent is:

. 1. .A coal washing apparatus comprising a single tank with a middle transversely arranged partitionterminating below the top of the tank, a reciprocating plunger below said partition arranged to act alternately on the contents of the tank to carry the coal over the partition and outwardly from the end, perforated screens arranged across the upper portion of the tank at each side of the partition and inclining downwardly toward said partition at each side, means for supply- I in water to each compartment of the tank be ow the screens, and means for actuating the plunger, substantially as set forth 2. A coal washing apparatus comprising a single tank with a middle transversely arranged artition terminating below the top of the tan a reciprocating plunger below said partition arranged to act alternately on thecontents of the tank to carry the coal over the partition and outwardly from the end, perforated screens arranged across the upper porand inclining downwardly toward said partition at each side,imeans for supplym water to each compartment 0f the tank be ow the and means for withdraw ng the impurities from the lower ortion of each compartment, substantial y as set forth. 3. A coal washing apparatus comprising a single tank with a middle transversely arover the partition and outwardly from the end, perforated screens arranged across the upper portion of the tank at each side of the partition and inclining downwardly toward said partition at each side, means for supplyin Water to each compartment of the tank be ow the screens, and means for actuating the lunger, said tank having an overflow con uit at one end between the sides of the tank, substantially as set forth.

, 4:- In a coalwashing-apparatus, the com bination of a tank having an outlet opening for the water and washed material at one end and inwardly sloping oppositely inclined bottoms at each end, atransverse over-flow partition midway between the ends extendmg upwardly to a short distance below the top of the tank and having a lip extending toward the outlet opening, said partition being provided with a plunger housing through its middle portion, transversely arranged screens extending across the upper portion of the tank and inclining downwardly toward the middle partition, means for supplying water below said screens at each'side of said partition, and a reciprocating plunger mounted in said housing, with means for actuating it, substantially as set forth.

5. In a coal washing apparatus, the combination of a tank having an outlet opening for the water and washed material at one end and inwardly sloping oppositely inclined bottoms at each end, a transverse over-flow partition midway between the ends extending upwardly to a short distance below the top of the tank and having a lip extending toward the outlet opening, said partition being provided with a plunger housing through its middle portion, transversely arranged screens extending across the upper portion of the tank and inclining downwardly toward the middle partition, means for supplying water below said screens at each side of said partition, a reciprocating plunger mounted in said housing, with means for actuating it, means for supplying coal to the end of the tank opposite the over-flow conduit, and means for withdrawing the impurities from the bottom of the tank at each side of the partition, substantially as set forth.

6. A coal washing apparatus comprising a single tank with a transversely arranged over-flow artition terminating below the top of the tan i, said tank having means for supplying coal to one end of the tank and an;

ilu

nieans for actuating the plunger, perforated screens arranged across the upper portion of out-flow conduit at the other end of the tank, a plunger housing located in said partition, av reciprocating lunger mounted therein,

pertinent of the tank below thef screens, substentially as set forth: v y

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.-

WM. A. KNOYER. the tank at each side of the partition andinclining downwardly toward it at each side, and means for supplying water to-eech com- Witnesses:

HARRY CORY, v Jos. RAFAEL. 

